Third Annual Homeland Defense and Security Education SummitPolicy & Research Forum
March 12-13, 2009
On March 12-13, 2009, The George Washington University Homeland Security Policy Institute co-hosted the third annual Homeland Defense and Security Education Summit, along with the Naval Postgraduate School, Center for Homeland Defense and Security; the Homeland Security/Defense Education Consortium Association; the National Preparedness Directorate, FEMA/DHS; and the Office of the Chief Learning Officer, DHS. The conference took place on The George Washington University campus in Washington, D.C.
This year’s theme, “Creating the Professional Homeland Defender,” was chosen to elicit the key lessons of past experiences and current research in order to better develop the academic content needed to grow and prepare both current and future homeland defense and security specialists in all sectors—public, private, and non-governmental—through courses and programs centered on this ever-evolving and dynamic educational field. The summit featured presentations by a range of military and civilian experts. Keynote speakers included U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Sally Brice-O’Hara, who emphasized the need to integrate capabilities within and beyond government; and U.S. Army Lieutenant General (Ret.) Russel Honoré, who stressed the importance of national preparedness planning that extends from government to citizen.
The recent change of presidential administrations provides a natural point for examining the role of the professional homeland defender. Many of the themes raised throughout the summit were highlighted in the panel discussion concerning “Homeland Security in the Obama Administration,” featuring Stanford University’s Paul Stockton, The Heritage Foundation’s James Carafano, and HSPI Director Frank Cilluffo. Dr. Stockton noted that the interdisciplinary nature of homeland security presents challenges for educators, students and practitioners alike; and he underscored that “education is absolutely vital for building capacity in this country and for homeland security.” Dr. Carafano highlighted the important role Congress plays, especially as the new administration settles in: “this notion that Congress doesn’t have a huge impact simply is not true.” Director Cilluffo stressed the importance of understanding our enemies’ narratives, and of unifying and marshaling our policy and efforts in order to defeat our enemies: “we ought to think of responses to homeland security issues as more than whole of government; they’re really whole of society.”
During the panel “Considerations on the Current Threat,” HSPI Steering Committee Member Dr. Bruce Hoffman of Georgetown University focused on the ongoing debate about al-Qaeda’s current strength and operational status. Among the key issues he noted were the use of safe havens in Pakistan by al-Qaeda, and how undermining safe havens has been effective in neutralizing terrorist organizations in the past. He also observed that while al-Qaeda is pinning its hopes on a major event that will catapult the organization back to the forefront, the U.S. intelligence community’s thinning of al-Qaeda’s ranks through targeted attacks represents a possible “beginning of the end” for al-Qaeda.
In addition to the keynote addresses and panel discussions, the summit included some thirty breakout panels covering four broad themes: “Current and Emerging All Hazard Threats (Academic Programs)”; “Homeland Security/Defense Organizations, Processes, and Management”; “Homeland Security/Defense Policies, Strategies, and Legal Issues”; and “What are We Preparing Homeland Security/Defense Professionals to Do?” The event provided an excellent opportunity for almost two hundred civilian and military participants from across the country to come together, share lessons learned, and create networked solutions to current and future threats to homeland security.
HSPI's Policy & Research Forum Series spotlights cutting-edge security policy solutions and innovative research. The Series is designed to provide thought leaders in the United States and abroad with a uniquely constructive venue in which to discuss current and future security issues and challenges.
